Doctor mechanism for rotary intaglio printing presses



J. E. MEYER Nov. 7, 1950 DOCTOR MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 21. 1945 E INVENTOR.

o o o o o o o o o o o o J. E. MEYER 2,528,965

DOCTOR MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES Nov. 7, 1950 Filed April 21, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. E. MEYER Nov. 7, 1950 DOCTOR MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 21. 1945 R 0 m E V N J. E. MEYER Nov. 7-, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 21, 1945 J. E. MEYER Nov. 7, 1950 DOCTOR MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 21, 1945 o INVENTOR.

, M am @Nk ENG Patented Nov. 7, 1950 noo'roR MECHANISM FOR ROTARY INTAGLIO PRINTING PRESSES JosephiE. Meyer, WesterlyfR. 1,, assign'or to'C." B. Y Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. 1., a

corporation of Delaware Application-April 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,598

I, Claims.

My invention is directed to certain improvementsin the construction, form and arrangement of theseveral "elements'of "an "enclosed ink fountainfor "rotary intaglio printing 1 presses whereby '2 ink fountain with my improvements incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 represents a detail vertical section'taken within the near side frame with the doctor frame the structure of the .irikfountain is inaterially 5 locked to the carriage with the doctor frame .in -simplified and'the "operation of its -movable e1eits wiping position; 'ments facilitated. Fig. '3 represents a detail rear elevationpartly My inventionincludes anovel and simplified in section of the ink fountain; wiping "mechanism for the design cylinder; the i Fig. 4 represents a detail top plan view partly inking mechanism shown, but not claimed herein, insectionof the ink fountain; forming the subject'm'atter"of my 'c'opendin'gap- "Fig. 5 .represents on anenlarged scale a detail 'plic'ationfiled February 1,1945, its Serial No. 'besection taken in the plane of the line VV of ing 575,679, now'PatentNo.$460,184. The seal- Fig. 3,'looking in the direction of the arrows; 'ing mechanism shown and described, but not Fig. '6 represents 0n the same scale a detail claimed .herein, forms the subject matter of sectiontaken in the "plane of the line VI-VI of my cop'ending app-li'cation'filed"March 20, 1947, Fig. '3, looking'in the direction of the arrows; its'SerialNo. being736;095, nowPatent No. 2,495,- Fig. 7 represents a section taken in the plane 017. of theline'VII of Fig. 6;

"My invention also "includes, generally, novel Fig.8 represents a'detail section similar to Fig. means for mounting and swinging the doctor 6 withthedoctor frame unlocked from the carframe andfor'adjus'ting the contact pressure of riage'and swungto thelimit of its openposition; the doctor blade onlthe printing cylinder, and Fig. 9 represents'afdetail section taken in the novel means fonlim'iting "the inward swinging planeof the line of Fig; 8, looking in the movement oi'the doctor-"frame andforil'ocking it direction of the arrows; inits adjustedposition at the limit "of its inward Fig.f10 represents an'inside face view of one swinging movement. ofthelockinghandl'es;

My invention also includes, more specifically, Fig. "11 representsa detail section taken in the a reciprocating carriagega" doctor frame and its .plane ofthe line XI of Fig. 8, looking in the direclock levers pivoted toswing "on and reciprocate tion' of the arrow; and Withzthe carriage; devices being'provided for se- Fig. 12 represents a detail end view of one'of curing thedoctor frame to the locklevers and "the u'pper'arms of the reciprocating carriage. additional devices being provided for releasably The printing press frame includes, genera11y, a securing the locklevers .to the carriage with the hollow base I and two side frames'Z. The printdoctor 'fra'me 'in"i'ts wiping position. ing cylinder'is denoted by 3, its impression cyl- 'My invention also "comprises novel sealing inder by land the pressure cylinder by 5.. The means for the fountain 'at the upper portions of web guide rollers Bare arranged to lead the travthe printing cylinder at "its";ends combined. with eling web 1 to and from theimpression cylinder. means for pr'eventingthe 'escaipe'of the ink from These cylinders and guiderollers may be suitably the cylinder "through the space between. the back mounted for rotation between the side frames 2; frame and doctor blade. 40 Inkunderpressure may be supplied to the inker 'One object of my invention'isto provide a rigid head and thereby onto the printing cylinder, from doctor blade platform which can be slid toward any'suitabl'e'source,"not shown herein, through andaway from the prin'tingcylinderby micromethe horizontally disposed pipe it which, in the t'er screw adjustments to bring the doctor blade present instance, is shown asbeing supported by into parallelismwith the printing cylinder withthe base I. "Thisinker head forms the front wall out any distortion or twisting of the platform. 'of'the upper portion'ofthe fountain bowl 9. This Another object is to provide means whereby i'nker head may be swung on its ink supply pipe the blade 'and holder may be readily removed Hlinto and out of itsinking position. for replacement by pivoting' the whole assembly Means'which willnot be specifically described o'na shaft on'the carriage-thereby permitting-the herein maybe. provided'for the removal and redoct'or bla'dei an'd holder be swung back away placement of the printing cylinder 3 through the from the p i fl front of the upper portion of the ink fountain i'Aipiaticaliembddimemidflmyinvefition iS r pwhen the 'inkerhead is swung to its lowered or resented-in'the 'accomp nyin firaW n in which non-inking position. A screen H separates the Fig. 1 represents 'adetail sideelevation of. "the fountainbowl 9 into upper andlower portions.

A back frame I2 is fixedly mounted on the hollow base i on the opposite side of the printing cylinder 3 from the inker head 8, which back frame includes outer and inner walls l3 and I4 inclined upwardly and inwardly until they meet near the top of the printing cylinder adjacent the impression cyl nder 4. The inner Wall M of this back frame forms the back wall of the upper portion of the fountain bowl 9. The ends of the back frame snugly contact the inner walls of the side frames 2 for sealing the ink fountain at these points. I I

The wiping mechanism for the printing cylinder is constructed and arranged as follows.

wall l3 of the back frame l2. This slide bar is provided with undercut upper and lower edges l8 within the groove I 9 is provided with an undercut edge 22 which contacts the lower undercut edge l1 of the crossbar l5. The carriage |8 may A slide bar 5 is fixedly secured to the inclined outer 4 48 being provided for clamping the upper and lower clamping bars together with the doctor blade therebetween. The doctor blade deflecting bar 42 is shown as secured by screws 49 to the upper jaw bar 40. The blade deflecting bar 42 may be provided with knobs 50 for facilitating the handling of..the doctor blade.

The micrometer means for individually adjusting either end 'of the doctor blade or for simultaneously adjusting both ends of the doctor blade toward and away from the printing cylinder to bring it into parallelism with'the printing cylinder, is constructed and arranged as follows.

The doctor blade platform 36 of the swinging doctor frameisprovided with two uprising portions 5| located over the swinging brackets 30.

Projecting arms 52 are removably secured by be reciprocated by providing the carriage at one 7 end thereof with an uprising lug 23 attached to one end of a connecting rod 24 operated from a suitable ower means, not shown herein.

The carriage I8 is also provided at each end with upper and lower arms 25 and 26. A shaft 21 is mounted to rock in bosses 26 on said lower arms 26. A sto 29 is carried by each of the lower arms 26 forlimiting the outward swinging movement of the doctor frame away from its wiping position, which frame is shown as includ- 'ing two swinging brackets 30 having uprising .portions 3| and depending arms 32. These arms for sliding the doctor blade platform. 36 on the horizontal portions of the two brackets 30 toward and away from the printing cylinder 3 between guides 31 secured along the outer ends of the platform by screws 38 and overlapping the outer sides of the brackets 30. Sufficient clearance is provided between the guides 31 and the brackets 30 to prevent binding of the doctor blade platform when be ng adjusted to bring the doctor blade into parallelism with the printing cylinder.

The usual doctor blade assembly comprises the doctor blade 39, the upper and lower blade clamping bars 40 and 4| and the blade deflecting bar 42. The lower c amping bar 4| is seated in a recess 43 extending across the inner edge of the platform 36 with its beveled edge portion project ng beyond the platform toward the printing cylinder. This lower clamping bar 4| is removably secured to the platform 36 by the bridge clamps 44 and their screws 45. This lower clampin bar 4| is shownas provided with two handles 46 for use in swinging the wiping mechanism into and out of its wiping position. The rear portion of the doctor blade 39 is shown as seated in a shallow recess 41 located along the bottom of the, upper clamping bar 40,- screws screws 53 to the tops of the said uprising portions 5|, recesses 54 being formed between the said arms 52 and the platform 36 for receiving nuts 55, said, nuts beirig swiveled on axes perpendicular to the platform by providing the nuts with annular grooves for receiving the arms of yokes 56 provided with upper and lower trunnions 51 and 58 pivoted in said arms 52 and platform 36 respectively. Suflicient clearance should be provided between the cylindrical parts of the yokes 56 and the nuts to permit the adjustment of the doctor blade platform 36 without its binding. 1

Doctor blade adjusting screws 59 are rotatably mounted in the uprising portions 3| of the swinging brackets 30, said screws having their inner portions 60 threaded into the said swiveled nuts 55. The outer non-threaded portions of these adjusting screws 59 are provided, exterior to the uprising portions 3|, with gears 6| which mesh with worms 62 fast on the alined coupled sections 63 and 64 of a divided hand shaft, which shaft sections are rotatably mounted in their respective casings 65 carried by the brackets 30, which casings house the worms 62 and worm gears 6|. The coupling 66 serves to releasably secure the inner adjacent ends of the alined shaft sections together. The outer ends of these shaft sections are provided with hand wheels 61 or 68. When the coupling 66 is tightened to clamp the'two shaft sections together either one of the hand wheels 61 and 68 may be used to adjust the platform 36 and thereby ,the'doctor blade bodily toward and away from the printing cylinder. When the coupling 66 is loosened the adjusting screws59 may be individually adjusted for bringing the doctor blade into parallelism with the printing cylinder by turning one or the other of the said hand wheels 61 or 68, the swiveling of the nuts 55 permitting this'individual adjustment of the ends of the platform 36.

Coil springs 69 are interposed between the outer end of the platform 36 and the adjacent faces of the uprising portions 3| of the brackets 30 for keeping a constant inward pressure on the platform 36 to eliminate any lost motion between the platform and the swinging brackets 36. The outer portions of these springs 69 may be housed in recesses 10 in the uprising portions 3| to keep the springs in place.

The means for releasably locking the swinging doctor frame to the reciprocating carriage and for limiting the inward movement of the doc tor blade when it reaches its wiping position, is constructed and arranged as follows.

Vertical slots 1| extend across the free ends of the upper arms 25 of the doctor reciprocating carriage l8 and circular recesses 12 lead inwardly enhance Iitromdheibottoms pf ithese werti'cal'is'rots. $17011 pr s 1 3 areil oc'ated betweenithelbottoms o'fZthe "circular :recesses :12 and washers 14 which ail-e 'sli'dable on central'zpms 15 screwe"d-- into the leettoms oi said c'ir'cular recesses.

"Two paral'lel lock plates "l6 are secured to the end-or each of theupper-arms 25 of lthe carriage i n pos'iti'on 'to overlap the vertical slot 1 I These lodk'pl'atesW-B are spaced apart'sulficient-ly to permitthe insertion'and removal of the double cam surfaced "cross 'head Tl of each of the lock pins 'l'8 when "the pins are turnedto their unlocked ,position to'bring the cross heads 1 1-=to-'their vertical positions. 1 These lock pins '18 which arerotatably m'ounted in the heads '--|'9"o"fl'ock "levers having depending arms 80 loosely mounted on the rock-shaft 2'! between the-split bosses 33"on the-depending arms "32" of the *doctorframebrackets -30 and the arms 81' projecting "from the caririage Hiin line with the lower arms '25 "thereof;

These lock 'pins l8 are provided with annular shoulders 82 near their "double cam "cross heads llftoprevent outward 'endwis'emov'ement of the pins through lock lever heads 19.

Nuts- 8 3 threadedpn the 'outer' ends of "thelock pins 7 8"s'erveto erowdtne 1111135 81" o-f'the handles "8? against the "annular shoulders "'86 on the "lock pins to fix the handles thereon. "To limit "the 'throw o'f "the --handles"85 to thir' loked and .unloeked"positions studs '81 1 project from the outer faces of'the heads I9 into curved .slots'8'8 in the inner faces of the hubs M of thelhandles-Biconcentric with theaxesfof'theirllock pins 18. These handles 85 areyieldinglylheld at the limits -of their llockedwand unlocked positions by spring pressedlballs 89 carried by the-heads 19, which balls enter spacedshallow recesses BU-inthe inner faces of the hubs 3410f the handlesBS. wlit will be seen thatwhen the double cam-cross heads "T1 of the lock .pins J8 are turned from their vertical "unlocked position to their-horizontal locked position the-double cam1surfacesw-on :the CI'OSS heads will be forced runder their respective lock plates #6 against the-pressure of the spring pressedwashers 14. When the 1ocl ':pins are turned -to their unlocked position the spring pressed washers M serve to force the lock rpins outwardly and thereby ho d the-doctorblade away from contact with the ;:-printing mylinder when the doctor "frame is lswurigcinwardly, until the-lock pins are turned 'totheir docked position. This locking movemen't willncause the double c'am heads- 0f the. pins to force the washers fll inwardlyby the =camaction oi the :heads with their lock plaltes'lfi. fihis' arran'gem'ent prevents' the doctor. :blade digging into :ithe printing cylinder when the frame is SWIun'g toward the cylinder intom'osition to' 'b'e locked to the-carriage by the turning T01 the lock "pins to their locked position.

"For the initial ':'setting of "the ddctor frame in the 'co'rrect wiping position for a printing cylinder of-a-larg'e size tas' illustratedin Fig. 8) the twolo'ck lovers *are swung "on the rock shafti! to -brin'g 'a selected "one of tw-o screw threaded holes-93 in each of the depending arms 8!! into alinementwith the hole '92 in'itsediacent-depending arm' 32 'of-thedoctor -'frame. Screw bolts 91 are then inserted through the holes 92 into threaded "engagement with the alinedholes "93, to removably lock the doctor -frame and the "lock levers together. 'When the doctor frame is to be :settinthe corr'ect?position for a small'size'd printing cylinder therscrew bolts .9 I 'areremoved andthe rock levers are swungon the shaft"'2l unti rthe other screw threaded ihole i93 iin i'e 'ach idependin'g arm 801-is broughtiint'o'alinement' -iwith the lower-clamp'bar and-the top'o'f'the back frame.

Narro'w spring strips 98 are s'ecured at their lower'ends to the under surfa'ces o'f theliolder bar 95 at the ends of the "printing "cylinder '3. Sealing blocks 99*are-securedto the upper portions of the said strips '98 in position tojpress against the under surfaces of thedoctor blade and-the lower jaw'bar l l beyond the upper edge Of the sealinglplate 9'6. Thesesealingblock's"also slightly overlap the ends'of the cylinders. 7

The seals whichare located atthe ends'of'ithe printing cylinder between'the'inkin'g andwiping mechanism are "shown herein "as comprising curved members I00 overlapping the cylinders and having depending flanges "Hll which thesecured to the'side frames 2.

"In operation: presuming the lock"levers"ha'v'e been locked to the doctor frame by'the screw bolts 9| and the doctor'frame'withthe"lock levers has been swung together toits open position against thestops 29. The'doctor frame may then be'swung inwardlyuntilthe double cam headsll of the locking pins 18 are engaged by thespring I pressed'washers "in the upper arms 25"of the ment with the doublecam heads 1'! prevent the doctor blade 39 touching theprinting'cylinder' 3. The turning of the'pins 13 to their locking positions will cause the cams onthe heads 11 toengage the inner walls of the lock plates 16 and force the spring pressed washersbac'k'and move the doctor blade inwardly to its wiping position. An accuratesettin'g"of'the doctor blade 39 may then'be accomplished by adjustin the ends ofthe platform 36 either simultaneously or individually'by'the manipulation of the micrometer adjusting screws 59through the divid'edsha'ftfi, 64 and its hand'wheels 61, fiBjitbeing understood that either hand wheel may be used when the-shaft sections '63, 64 are clamped together by the coupling 66 to adjust both ends ofthe doctor blade 39 "at the same time. When'the shaft sections 63, .64 are releasedifrom each other by loosening the coupling'GB either end of the platform 36 of the swinging doctor frame and thereby the doctor blade '39 maybe adjusted to bring the doctor blade into lparallelism by the manipulation of the proper hand wheel. "When it is desired to unlock the doctor frame and swing it together with the look levers to'their open position against the-stops 29cm theilowe'r' As has been heretofore explained,

' position without disturbing the previous accurate setting of the doctor blade. 7 .1 ltisevident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to belimited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but whatI-claim is: :1. ,In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back ;frame, a printing cylinder and awiping mechanism therefor comprising areciprocating carriage, a doctor frame including brackets pivoted to swing onthe carriage, a platform slidableon the brackets, a doctor blade mounted on the platform, and coacting means for adjusting the ends of the doctor blade individ ually or simultaneously toward and away from theprinting cylinder comprising swiveled nuts on the platform and manually operated adjusting. screws mounted on the brackets and threaded into said nuts. 2. In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame, a printing cylinder and a Wiping mechanism therefor comprising a reciprocating carriage, 'a doctor frame including brackets pivoted to swing on the carriage, a platform slidable on the brackets, a doctor blade mounted on the platform, and coacting means for adjusting the ends of the doctor blade individually or simultaneously toward and away from the printing cylinder comprising swiveled nuts' on the platform and manually operated adjusting screws mounted on the brackets and threaded into said nuts, a divided hand shaft having worm and gear connections-between the shaft sections and their respective adjusting screws and a releasable coupling for securing the shaft sections together.

3. Ina-n enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping m chanism therefor adjustable for cylinders of different sizes comprising a carriage reciprocable on said back frame, a

. shaft mounted to rock on said carriage and to reciprocate therewith, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to rock and reciprocate with said shaft, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted on said shaft, removable means for securing the lock levers to the doctor frame in different angular positions with respect thereto, and manually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and arranged to be locked to and released from the carriage.

4. In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed backframe, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism therefor comprising a reciprocating carriage, a shaft mounted to rock thereon and to reciprocate therewith, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to rock and reciprocate with said shaft, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted on said shaft, manually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and arranged to be locked to and released from the carriage, and spring means for yieldingly engaging the lock pins to prevent the doctor frame from swinging to its locked position.

5. In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame, a printing. cylinder of a predetermined size and a wipingmechanism therefor adjustable for cylinders of different sizes and comprising a carriage reciprocable on said back 8 frame, a shaft mounted to rock-on said'carriage and reciprocate therewith, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to said shaft to rock and to, reciprocate therewith, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted on said shaft, and manually operated lock pins pivoted inthe lock levers and provided with cross heads arranged to be locked to and released from the carriage.

6. In an enclosed ink fountain, abase, a fixed back-frame having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism there.- for adjustable for cylinders of diiferent sizes and comprising a carriage reciprocable on said inclined outer wall, upper and lower arms projecting from the carriage, a shaft mounted to rock in said lower arms and reciprocate with the carriage, a doctor frame including brackets fixedto said shafttorock and reciprocate therewith, lock leversreciprocating with and loosely mounted on said shaft, means for removably securing thelock levers to their brackets in different angular positions with respect thereto, and means for releasably securing the lock levers to their respective upper carriage arms comprising manually oper-# ated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and arranged to be locked to and released from the upper carriage arms.

7. Inan enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism therefor comprising a, carriage reciprocable on said inclined outer wall, upper and lower armspro-I jecting from the carriage, a shaft mounted to rock in said lower arms and reciprocate with the carriage, a doctor frame including brackets fixed. to'said shaft to rock and reciprocate therewith, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted on said'shaft, means forrernovably securing the lock levers to" their brackets in different angular positions with respect thereto, and means for'releasably securing the look levers to their respective upper carriage arms comprising manually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and provided with cross heads arranged tobe locked and released from the upper carriage arms.

8. Inan enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer wall, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism therefor comprising a carriage reciprocable on said inclined outer wall, upper and lower arms project ing from the carriage, a shaft mounted to rock in said lower arms and reciprocate with the carriage, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to said shaft to rock and reciprocate therewith, lock leversreciprocating with and loosely mounted to rock on said shaft, means for removably securing the lock levers to their brackets in different angular positions with respect thereto, and means forreleasably locking the lock levers to their, respective upper carriage arms comprising manually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and provided with cross heads having cams arranged to engage the upper carriage arms for forcing vthe'doctor frame into its wiping position.

9. In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame having an upwardly and inwardly inclined outer wa1l,.a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism therefor comprising a carriage reciprocable on said inclined outer wall, upper and lower arms project:

ing from the carriage, a shaft mounted to rock in said lower arms and reciprocate with the carriage, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to said shaft to rock and reciprocate therewith, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted to rock on said shaft, means for removably securing the lock levers to their brackets in different angular positions with respect thereto, and means for releasably locking the lock levers to their respective upper carriage arms comprising manually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and provided with cross heads having double cams arranged to engage the upper carriage arms for forcing the doctor frame into its wiping position.

10. In an enclosed ink fountain, a base, a fixed back frame, a printing cylinder of a predetermined size and a wiping mechanism therefor comprising a reciprocating carriage, upper and lower arms projecting from the carriage, a shaft mounted to rock in said lower arms and reciprocate with the carriage, a doctor frame including brackets fixed to rock and reciprocate with said shaft, lock levers reciprocating with and loosely mounted on said shaft, means for initially securing the lock levers to their brackets, and means for releasably locking the lock levers to their respective upper carriage arms comprising man- 10 ually operated lock pins pivoted in the lock levers and provided with cross heads having double cams arranged to engage the upper carriage arms for forcing the doctor frame into its wiping position, and spring pressed washers in said carriage arms arranged to engage said cross head for yieldingly preventing the doctor blade to be swung to the limit of its inward movement when unlocked.

JOSEPH E. MEYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 1 Date Re. 21,212 Weiss Sept, 18, 1938 1,562,470 Owen Nov. 24, 1925 2,097,791 Heller Nov. 2, 1937 2,110,289 Crafts Mar. 8, 1938 2,124,420 Kaddeland July 19, 1938 2,178,069 Crafts Oct. 31, 1939 2,183,045 Presby -Dec. 12, 939 2,278,138 Paardecamp Mar. 31, 1942 2,292,344 Heller et al Au 11, 1942 2,352,337 Meyer June 27, 1944 2,405,795 Lueh'rs Aug. 13, 1946 

